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Football MSU Athletics Communications

Three Bears Named to 2021 preseason All-MEAC Football Team

NORFOLK, Va. (July, 30, 2021) -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced the selections for the 2021 Preseason All-MEAC team Friday, with three players representing Morgan State. Offensive lineman Marvin Atuatasi, defensive lineman Merinio Dendoe and linebacker Devan Hebron were the three Bears named to the list, which is voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
 
This is the first preseason All-MEAC honors for the trio of Morgan State student-athletes. All three were named to the preseason All-MEAC second-team.
 
Atuatasi is preparing for his second season of college football after starting as a true freshman during the 2019 season. The gritty 6-foot-1, 310-pounder from Leone, America Samoa started in eight games at the guard position before being sidelined due to injury.
 
Dendoe returns to the Bears for his senior season. During his junior season with the Bears in 2019, Dendoe saw action in 10 games and logged 28 total tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also had five quarterback hurries and a blocked kick.

Hebron (6-3, 220) enters the 2021 season as a redshirt junior for the Bears. In 2019, the Lanham (Md.) native saw action in every game and finished as the team's sixth leading tackler with 39 stops (28 solo), to go along with 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also had an interception and a forced fumble.
 
The Bears, under the direction of head coach Tyrone Wheatley are predicted to finish fifth in the MEAC standings, according to the poll of the conference head coaches and sports information directors.
 
Norfolk State University quarterback Juwan Carter was selected as the MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while South Carolina State University defensive back Decobie Durant was selected as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. 
 
South Carolina State University has been picked to win the MEAC Football Championship as the Bulldogs topped the league's annual preseason poll for 2021. 
 
Listed below are the 2021 MEAC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish. For Preseason All-MEAC teams, click here.
 
2021 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. South Carolina State (118 pts)
2. Norfolk State (96)
3. North Carolina Central (78)
4. Delaware State (56)
5. Morgan State (48)
6. Howard (36)
 

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• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Marvin Atuatasi

#58 Marvin Atuatasi

OL
6' 1"
Sophomore
Merinio Dendoe

#91 Merinio Dendoe

DL
6' 3"
Senior
Devan Hebron

#45 Devan Hebron

GRIZ
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Marvin Atuatasi

#58 Marvin Atuatasi

6' 1"
Sophomore
OL
Merinio Dendoe

#91 Merinio Dendoe

6' 3"
Senior
DL
Devan Hebron

#45 Devan Hebron

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
GRIZ